Selling Your Home
The Selling Process
If you are interested in the process of selling a home the home selling process is similar to the buying process. There are many steps and moving pieces involved.
Find the right listing agent: The home selling process can be a long one, and sellers will want to make sure to find the right real estate agent to serve their best interests. The process of finding the right agent can include asking friends, family, and coworkers for referrals, reviewing agent websites, and sitting down for an interview with top picks.
Choose a competitive listing price: Selling your home quickly is a matter of competitive pricing. Your listing agent will be responsible for conducting market analysis report called a CMA to recommend the best listing price to help your property sell within a reasonable amount of time.
Devise a marketing plan: A good listing agent will present to you a concise marketing strategy, such as listing on the MLS, hosting open houses, and sending out targeted campaigns, and taking professional photos & videos.
Give your property a makeover: Although you may love your home the way it is, new buyers will be looking for a fresh and often blank slate to start off with. Spend time prepping your home for sale by conducting a deep clean and reup its appearance by giving it a fresh coat of paint. Your agent can also help provide guidelines or companies who can declutter, remove personalized effects, and get rid of pet odors.
Prepare for open houses and private showings: You will work with your listing agent to prepare for upcoming open houses. Usually, the agent, as well as other buyers agents, will show the property to interested buyers in your absence.
Do not be afraid to negotiate: The great thing about selling a home in a seller’s market is that there is always room for negotiations. If your home is in a desirable location and priced well, you will likely have many competing offers. Your agent will work with you to negotiate on your behalf to agree to and accept the best possible counter-offer.
Title, Inspections, & Appraisal: Once you, the seller, and the buyer have reached a purchase agreement, you will enter into a period called escrow. During this time, the buyer and seller will await the closing and your agent will work toward ordering a title report, scheduling an appraisal, and scheduling/conducting a property inspections.
Prepare for closing: Both home buyers and you, the seller, can start breathing sighs of relief as you cross off your checklists and approach the closing date. Your listing agent will prepare you by walking you through all the documents and paperwork that you will read and sign during the closing. Prepare yourself to read and sign a large stack of documents with fine print, which your agent will fully explain to you. Once everything is signed and verified by all parties, the property has officially been sold.
